Dutch tactician Adriaan de Mos believes Nigeria international Calvin Bassey is not Ajax material and that signing him was a mistake.
The versatile defender had an excellent 2021/22 campaign with Scottish heavyweights Rangers and the Eredivisie champions did not hesitate to go for his services.
This season, the Nigeria international has played nine league matches for Ajax and helped them collect 28 points that have ensured they top the table.
However, his – and the team’s performances at large in the Champions League, have been criticized. The Dutch outfit have played five games and suffered four defeats, conceding 15 goals and scoring just eight in the process.
The most humiliating defeat was a 6-1 defeat at home against Italian side Napoli. De Mos suggests Bassey is one of the reasons why the team have struggled.
WHAT HE SAID: “Bassey is not an Ajax player for me. And I can’t imagine anyway why you would bring a player from the Scottish league to Ajax,” the experienced tactician said as quoted by Football Transfers.
“He has no speed of action, no insight. And before he has turned, a day has passed. There is no feeling in him.”
Bassey was one of the best performers for Rangers last season. But it was his performance in the final of the Europa League that drew the attention of some of Europe’s top sides.
The versatile Nigerian defender was linked with West Ham, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Arsenal. However, he settled for a transfer to perennial Dutch champions Ajax for a weighty €23million.
Unfortunately for the 23-year-old Nigeria international, life at Ajax has not exactly been a bed of roses. Bassey was brought in the fill the void left by Lisandro Martinez, who left for Manchester United. But it has not been easy for the former Rangers Academy man.
Godenzonen have been humiliated in the Champions League, suffering hefty losses against Napoli and Liverpool.
Ajax have conceded 25 goals in 16 games this season- a poor record for a club of their stature.
Meanwhile, according to Sofascore, Bassey has averaged a rating of 7.28 and 6.8 in the Eredivise and Champions League this season, better than any Ajax defender.
The Super Eagles star would hope that his hardwork yields fruits soon enough, and Ajax fortunes improves.
